MasterpieceLost's Journal

Ok well I just started this program called America on the Move earlier this week. It basically has you use a step counter to check your daily progress, and gives you goal points in the guise of fun little 'trail' games that you achieve by reaching a certain step total over a length of time.

Well anyway, I had to start small. I haven't actively exercised in a long while and I have knee and back problems that make it hard to just pick up any exercise easily. So even though the goal was to reach 5,000 steps a day (roughly 2 to 3 miles depending on the distance of your gait) I started on tuesday with a simple test walk in my neighborhood for 2000 steps. I was sore as hell after, couldn't wait to get home, and was totally beat the next day.

 I started searching online for techniques in stretching, good walking habits, etc to see if I could improve this progress. 

God, I love the internet.

So today I decided to start this out right. I ate a good breakfast of turkey bacon with lettuce, tomato, and avocado on a whole grain bread, and I made sure I drank a bottle of water before I left (on top of the bottle I took with me).  I made a playlist of good, fast paced songs (its proven that this regulates your step pattern, heart rate, and breathing) and stretched before I left and when I got back.

I feel like a million bucks! 

I actually went over double what I achieved last time, 4,373 steps (apprx. 3 miles with my gait) and I still wanted to keep going! I actually had to convince myself to go home so that I didn't risk being too sore tomorrow.

I think this is a real testament to the fact that exercising smart, such as warming up, eating and drinking right before hand, good technique, etc, really does make a huge difference in what you can accomplish.  

P.S. anyone who is interested in the exercise technique sites I found, I'll be posting those in the recommendations section of the Obesity Support Group.